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Richard
Yours is the first that I have read about any slop in the 3612 miter slot. I have the 2424 and it is fine. To answer your second question, the Craftsman saw is not the same as the Ridgid. Emerson tool no longer makes the Craftsman saws. Dave

Comment

Richard, 3612 and all Ridgid mitre slots are a hair under 3/4".
The manufacturing specs are:
Mitre Bar Slot .752 Max .745 Min
Mitre Bar .737 Min .740 Max"
There's no slop with the stock gauge or with any of the other accessories that I've used.
As DaveM states, Ridge Tool haven't made product for Sears for a number of years. The TS's you see at Sears are Chinese/Taiwan clones.
David

Comment

No slop in any of the 3612's slots that I've seen...none in my 2424 either. The Sears saws are made by Ryobi to their specs...fooled me too as they look alike. Must not be any law against design similarity.

But the persistent posting/concern about the 3/4 inch wide slots are that Ridgid makes the slots "exact" (if there were such a thing) and the rail on the miter gauge a hair under (since there does need to be a difference or it wouldn't slide), and that some of the other brands make the rails "exactly" 3/4 inch, and the slots slightly wide. This is consistent with the specs listed above.

That means that a Ridgid miter gauge would have slop if used on some other tools, and (for example) a Delta Tenon jig needs to have the bar rubbed down slightly to work with Ridgid. Since I made my own tenon jig, I haven't faced that problem, but the posts I have read suggest that the difference is so small that it is a very easy fix.

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Sounds like you've gotten some bad info. Yes, the slot size difference, between brands, will drive you crazy at first, but you'll figure it out---never had a slop problem---BTW---if you upgrade miter gauges, Incra, at least, has adjustment for a great fit in the Rigid.

Think the reason the Sears saws look similar is that some of the designs/features are either out of patent coverage or Sears/Emerson jointly hold patents on some of the features---such as the little plastic insert, where you can mark kerf width.

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Congrats also, it is a great tool! You can use the search feature and look up TS3612 assembly issues. The main recurring thread is the adjustment of the Hercu-lift. Believe the instructions on the adjustment of bolts/nuts holding the side pieces to the leg brackets- just on far enough for a thread or two to come out of the nut. Adjust the feet as directed and you will skate around the shop when desired and stand fast when needed.